Sharing his gift with gusto

Adams graduate Coleman organizes a school gospel choir.

Adams graduate Coleman organizes a school gospel choir.

January 17, 2007|JIM MEENAN Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Teri Woodruff, Adams High School athletic director, sat in the back of the choral room after school, smiling and marveling at the work of the 30 or so students in front of her. They were swaying, singing and reacting strongly to the energetic direction of their leader ---- Charles "Chuckie" Coleman. Coleman, a 2003 Adams graduate, was preparing the students who comprise the unofficial Adams gospel choir for an upcoming performance. A security guard the first semester, Coleman started the group in September. "We try to reinforce to our kids to go away to college and come back and give back to the kids in the community," Woodruff said. "Here in one semester he has taken the opportunity to get involved with our youth and sponsor this choir -- and really he has put in heart and soul into it." And his time, as evidenced by holding practices two to three days a week for 1 1/2 to three hours since September. "I want to share what I know and what I love to do," Coleman said. "There's about 50 kids and they sound great. They love what they are doing." No argument there. Sophomore Sharon Jackson enjoys the opportunity Coleman has given her. "I think it's a great thing and it's a great opportunity for kids like us to get together and sing gospel music and for us to get along with other people and learn songs," said Jackson. "I like gospel music. It has been real fun." Another sophomore, Jackie Richey, agrees. "It's good," she said. "It gives kids an opportunity to showcase the talent that they have." It's a rare chance to sing gospel music within the confines of the public school, she said. The club even performed a concert to the student body in December. "It's really stepping on the line," Coleman said regarding having anything with religious connotations in a public school. "It's stepping on eggshells because you can't really teach religion in the school." Hence, practices are held after school. And to be fair, many of the jazzed-up soulful songs seem a far cry from what you might hear in church. But the spirit definitely moves Coleman and his students. "It's the gospel music so you can't help but get something spiritually from it," Coleman said. "That just motivates me and the spirit of it lifts up their spirit, too." So does the energetic Coleman. A former football player, he moves his arms often in sweeping or extended motions as he leads his singers. "He feeds his enthusiasm to the choir," Richey said. "I am so into it," admitted Coleman. "Just the joy of sharing music with other kids, and knowing that they like to (perform)." He also believes he's offering the students not just more variety, but another avenue that some don't find in other music curriculum at school. "This is more of a soulful thing that comes from within you," Coleman said, noting curriculum offerings teach them to read music while performing. "For some of those kids, it's just awesome they are learning by ear." And many might not be involved in any school activities without the gospel choir, Teri Woodruff noted. "There are kids under his leadership that absolutely blossom," Teri said, noting their self-confidence soars. Coleman has always been a bit of a giver, said Woodruff's husband, John, a former teacher and softball coach at LaSalle High School, which closed as a high school and forced Coleman's transfer to Adams his senior year (2002-2003). While some students were apathetic regarding their new school, Coleman was not, John Woodruff, now the student management director at Adams, said. "Chuckie was one of those kids that decided he was going to get involved and try to do stuff, and he wasn't going to mope about LaSalle being closed," John said. Coleman will be leaving the choir this semester as he heads off for his junior year at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Miss. Coleman will hand over the reins of the choir to fellow Adams graduate Carlos Robinson, who plays keyboards for the group. Eventually, Coleman would like to start a youth gospel choir in South Bend, and possibly take this group on a summer tour of performances. At Alcorn State, he will minor in music education and major in criminal justice. His presence, however, still will be felt several states away in South Bend. "Chuckie is a great role model for the kids in our community," Teri Woodruff said. "He has been a real asset to our school this semester." Staff writer Jim Meenan: jmeenan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6342